Australian Football

Match Report

Port Adelaide's players, coaches and fans must be ruing what might have been after the Power had a comfortable win over the Gold Coast Suns at Carrara on Saturday night. Port has now won three games in a row and last week claimed Hawthorn's scalp for the second time this year and their form is such that it could cause havoc in the finals. But the Power find themselves eight points adrift of eighth place and they will be looking on at this year's finals action with regret because of poor form earlier in the year. 

The Power started strongly on Saturday night, and goals to Chad Wingard and Paddy Ryder had them 14 points ahead after just six minutes. But the Suns settled after that, with a goal to Tom Lynch. Port then attacked heavily but was rewarded with only four behinds, before Charlie Dixon scored Gold Coast's second to be within four points at quarter time. 

Dixon added another major as soon as the second term began, giving the Suns a two-point lead but Karl Amon responded for the Power soon after to restore a five-point lead. Sam Day's first at the 12-minute mark but the lead changed hands again three minutes later when Brendon Ah Chee goaled for Port. The Power added two more via Amon and Matt White and took a three-goal lead into the long break.

Gold Coast came out strongly after half time and majors to Brandon Matera and Dixon had the Suns back within a goal at the nine-minute mark. But the Power regained the ascendancy almost immediately and added four goals over the next 15 minutes through Justin Westhoff (two), Amon and Wingard to take a comfortable lead into the final change of ends. 

The final quarter meandered somewhat, as might be expected from two teams with nothing to play for. The first 13 minutes produced nothing more than behinds, with Matera's second goal finally breaking the drought to bring the Suns within 22 points and ignite a faint chance. But after another goalless period, Brad Ebert snuffed out Gold Coast's last hope with a goal at the 22-minute mark. Matt White followed up with another four minutes later as the Power cruised to a 37-point victory. 

Best for the Power included Sam Gray (37 possessions, three tackles) and Hamish Hartlett (32 touches, seven tackles) while Gold Coast was well served by Matera (nine marks, 26 possessions) and Aaron Hall (24 disposals, seven marks). 

Port will see out the season with a home match against Fremantle, the Dockers likely to rest several players with top spot secured, while the Suns will end the year with a road trip to Sydney to take on the Swans. 

GOALS
Gold Coast: Dixon 3; Matera 2; Lynch, Day,
Port Adelaide: Amon 3; Wingard, Westhoff, White 2; Ryder, Ah Chee, Ebert

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Gold Coast: Hall, Malceski, Lonergan, Matera, Rischitelli, Kolodjashnij
Port Adelaide: S.Gray, Hartlett, R.Gray, Amon, Ebert, Broadbent, Wingard

BEST - THE AGE
Gold Coast: Matera, Kolodjashnij, Hall, Lonergan, Malceski, Smith
Port Adelaide: Hartlett, S Gray, R Gray, Amon, Wingard, Westhoff

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Russell (ribs), Cameron (concussion)
Port Adelaide: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Danny Stanley replaced Luke Russell in the third quarter.
Port Adelaide: Aaron Young replaced Angus Monfries at three-quarter time.

UMPIRES: O'Gorman, Deboy, H. Ryan, Armstrong

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Matthew Campbell, Tony Shaw, Alastair Lynch, Cameron Mooney